History
In the early 20th century, white South Africans of Dutch origin left their countries, colonized and founded a territory in the Horn of Africa which they named Rudyarda after British writer Rudyard Kipling, whose 1899 poem "The White Man's Burden" was seen by many as championing the superiority of imperialism.[1] Rudyarda became a republic and its capital city, Viceroy, was built. Viceroy had an Academy,[1] a Prison,[1][2] and a local metal works on the edge of the city, which ended up being abandoned.[2]
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An example of the racial segregation in Viceroy
As late as the 20th century, Rudyarda maintained strict segregation between the native African population and Caucasians,[1][2] respectively identified as "Coloreds" and "Europeans" (despite the fact that they had not lived in Europe for centuries). Racial segregation was maintained at all points of the national territory, with separate gates, and often separate treatment, depending on skin color. The "Coloreds" had to live in neighborhoods with dusty dilapidated buildings; they were required to carry a proper identity card at all times under penalty of thirty days in prison if authorities required it and they were not carrying it; and they had to respect a curfew that was not required to "Europeans". People of color from other nations visiting Rudyarda also had to abide by these laws. Local authorities were even reluctant to even thank a person of color who had helped them. Rudyarda was, due to its apartheid, one of the last strongholds of white supremacy on the African continent, which could be seen in Viceroy.[2]
The inequality led to several violent situations between the Colored and European classes, initiated by both sides, which was the main case of local crime.[1] Interestingly, people of color were allowed to have firearms. The Viceroy Prison was protected by three-foot-thick walls, barred windows, and multiple levels of access. The standard cell had a thin mattress bed with no sheets and a table with a plate and cup on it. The prisoners were both Colored and Europeans, and many claimed to be there for political reasons.[2]
In recent times,[1] Prince T'Challa of Wakanda developed the Vibrotron technology,[2] which increased the power of the metal Vibranium by collecting the energy absorbed by it.[1][2] the supercriminal Klaw wanted to get his hands on this technology. and, keeping his involvement a secret,[2] arranged for Rudyarda's Colored citizen Nathan Kumalo[1] and his white associate Jeth Robards to steal the device, then travel to Viceroy to deliver it to Klaw.[1][2] Kumalo and Robards crash landed in Wakanda as a cover so that the Wakandan government would rescue them and give them a chance to escape to Rudyarda.[2] Once in Viceroy, however, Robards betrayed Kumalo, leaving him in the area for Coloreds, while Robards went to the metal works to meet with his mysterious boss. Meanwhile, T'Challa was trying to go undercover to Rudyarda in search of the thieves,[1][2] but in his haste he failed to forge an identity card,[2] so T'Challa was arrested and sent to prison (apparently not being recognized as a foreign dignitary).[1][2] T'Challa's aide Taku enlisted the help of the Fantastic Four, who sent the Thing and the Human Torch (two non-black superheroes friends to T'Challa) to investigate Rudyarda. They found Kumalo, who revealed that T'Challa was in prison and that Robards had betrayed him and was going to the local metal works; Robards also attempted to assassinate the heroes. The heroes raided the prison to free their friend T'Challa, who was then using the alias Black Leopard,[2] and then interrupted the exchange between Robards and Klaw. Panicked, Robards attempted to flee in Klaw's helicopter, but Klaw killed him, destroying the helicopter and the Vibrotron in the process. The Thing, the Torch and the Leopard defeated Klaw and delivered him[1][2] to Rudyard's federal authorities,[1] who sent Klaw to prison but refused to acknowledge the Leopard's help. In response, the Thing symbolically broke down the segregated gates of the abandoned factory.[2] T'Challa's brief arrest sparked a diplomatic incident with Wakanda.[1] As for Klaw, he was abused in prison with physical violence.[3] Outraged, Klaw vowed revenge on Rudyarda's system,[1][3] and eventually tried out a plan to do so, but failed.[3]
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Rock Python, born in Viceroy
Points of Interest
Residents
- Nathan Kumalo[3]
- Rock Python (formerly)[4]
Notes
- The city seen in Fantastic Four #119 is unnamed, but Marvel Atlas #2, Rudyarda's profile, identifies the events as happening in Viceroy, e.g. by describing the Prison as being there.
- Rock Python was identified as a native of Viceroy in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition #2.
See Also
- 2 appearance(s) of Viceroy (City)
- 1 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Viceroy (City)
- 1 image(s) of Viceroy (City)
Links and References
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 Marvel Atlas #2 ; Rudyarda's profile
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 Fantastic Four #119
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Avengers #126
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition #2 ; Rock Python's profile